Hunt is on for former Alderley Edge May Fair queens

Following the announcement earlier this month that the Alderley Edge May Fair 2018 will be adopting a wedding theme, in a nod to the forthcoming nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, organisers have confirmed that the theme will be prominent throughout the event this year – which will include an opportunity to watch the wedding live on a big screen in the village park.

The May Fair committee has also now announced their May Queen and May Princesses for the day.

The May Queen will be Maisey, age 12, a pupil at Wilmslow High School whose hobbies include making music, riding horses and performing with the Sue Morris School of Dance.

Maisey will be accompanied in the parade and throughout the fair by two princesses: Alice, age 7, and Iris, age 5.

Both girls attend Alderley Edge Community Primary School and showed their commitment to the village earlier in the year when they raised a petition with 600 names on it to save the village library from closure.

All the girls are excited to be part of the annual celebration, which first took place in the village almost 100 years ago.

The first Alderley Edge May Queen was Gwen Leah and the first Alderley Edge Rose Queen was Muriel Lees, back in 1922.

It was around this time when the local council first suggested a bypass (which eventually opened in October 2010) and the Festival Hall (recently refurbished, and re-opened in November 2015) was still being planned.

Locals estimate that there have been around 50 or more Rose or May Queens since Gwen and Muriel, so the May Fair committee this year is hoping to find as many of them as possible.

They have organised a fleet of vintage and classic cars to transport former queens and princesses through the village in the London Road parade (taking place on Saturday 19th May) and are asking for help in contacting them!

If you were (or know, or used to know, or think you know) a former May Queen, Rose Queen or May Princess then please get in touch by emailing alderleyedgefair@gmail.com.

Once contacted, they will receive a free invitation to the May Fair dance on 5th May, along with special treatment in the parade on 19th May and ringside seats as villagers settle down together to watch the royal wedding on the big screen in the park at midday.

PHOTO CAPTION: The first Alderley Edge Rose Queen, Muriel Lees (right), and the first Alderley Edge May Queen, Gwen Leah (left), together with their page boys in 1922. Picture courtesy of Alderley History Group.